Indian Hills Community College is proud to announce that Kim Dreaden, Associate Dean of Advanced Technologies, has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Iowa Association for Career and Technical Education (Iowa ACTE) Award of Merit.
The prestigious award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional service, leadership, and commitment to advancing Career and Technical Education (CTE) throughout Iowa.
Dreaden has played a significant role in strengthening CTE across the state through her service with Iowa ACTE. As an ACTE Next Level Fellow and Past President of Iowa ACTE, she helped modernize the organization’s governance structure, strengthened connections among Iowa’s community colleges, and led several strategic initiatives. During her tenure on the board, she spearheaded the search for a new executive director, established an advisory panel of past presidents, guided strategic planning efforts, and worked to increase engagement among postsecondary CTE professionals.
Colleagues who nominated Dreaden praised her ability to combine vision with action. “Kim looks at the big picture and breaks it down into clear, achievable goals. She embodies the heart of Iowa ACTE and always puts the interests of members first. Thanks to Kim, our post-secondary career and technical educators and community colleges are more connected than ever,” her nomination stated.
Indian Hills President, Dr. Matt Thompson, noted, “Kim’s selection for the Iowa ACTE Award of Merit reflects the leadership and expertise she brings to both Indian Hills and Career and Technical Education across Iowa. Through her work with Iowa ACTE and her commitment to student and workforce success, she has helped strengthen connections among community colleges and CTE professionals statewide. We
congratulate Kim on this well-deserved recognition.”
